2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium

And That's a Wrap

2010-11-18T19:01:00.000-07:00

This year's National AMBER Alert Symposium has come to a close. The computers are packed up; The evaluations are sorted and shipped; and most of the participants and staff are headed back to put into practice what we have learned over these last three days. Let's all make a commitment to work harder and in a more united manner and this year will surely be another record setting year for AMBER Alert and the fight against child abduction.

Our children depend on each one of us doing our best. They're worth it. As Diena Thompson stated in her closing address: "Children are a small percentage of the population, but are 100% of our future."

Thank you all for the brilliant work you do and for making this year's National AMBER Alert Symposium the best one EVER.

See you next year.

The 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium Comes to a Close

2010-11-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

Diena Thompson told use Somer's Story to bring everything into perspective.

Diena Thompson

Ron Laney presents Phil Keith with an award for excellence and dedication to the AMBER Alert Program. Thank you, Phil. You are a true hero and advocate for our children.

Ron Laney closing the Symposium

Phil receives the award

Cecilia Duquela-Fuentes and Phil Keith

Cecilia Duquela-Fuentes, Phil Keith, Ron Laney and Bob Hoever

...see you next year.

Family Roundtable Report

2010-11-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Family Roundtable gives their report to the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium

Carol Ryan

Crisis Communications Start Day 2

2010-11-18T08:58:00.001-07:00

A panel of Crisis Communications experts kicks off the last day here at the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium.

Phil Keith introduces the Crisis Communications Panel

Crisis Communications Panel

Panelists:

Paul Murphy, Director of Communications and Policy, Utah Attorney General's Office

Jeff Cardinale, Public Information Officer, Fresno Police Department

Deanna Boyd-Spangler, Reporter, Forth Worth Star-Telegram

Moderator: Mark Simpson, Retired Sergeant, Arlington, TX Police Department

Mary Justino, Public Information Officer, Clay County Sheriff's Office

C.W. Miiller, Commander, Phoenix Police Department

Eric Watson, Reporter, KPNX-TV in Phoenix, Arizona

The Home Stretch

2010-11-18T06:53:00.001-07:00

Things are starting to bustle as we get set here at the National AMBER
Alert Symposium for the third and final day.

The Gears That Move The Conference

2010-11-17T17:50:00.003-07:00

This year's National AMBER Alert Symposium is run by one of the finest
teams of staff and consultants around. The amount of law enforcement
and general AMBER Alert experience in this room is staggering.

Phil Keith and Fran Blair, your AMBER Symposium "orchestrators"

FVTC staff and consultants

Jim Walters and Jeremy Gordon

Day 1 and 2 debrief

And That' It For Day 2

2010-11-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

The specialized sessions are all wrapped up for the day. Tomorrow
we'll wrap up the conference.

Mother of Murder Victim to Conclude AMBER Alert Symposium

2010-11-17T15:20:00.002-07:00

Who: Diena Thompson and other family members of child abduction victims.
What: Diena Thompson will be the concluding speaker at the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium. She will share what happened after her seven-year-old daughter Somer was abducted while walking home from school in 2009. Somer’s body was later found in a Georgia landfill. Family members of child abduction victims will also share their findings with AMBER Alert Partners on how to improve child abduction investigations. This media advisory outlines day three of the three-day symposium.
When:
Thursday, November 18, 2010
8:45 a.m.

Crisis Communications (open to media)

Mark Simpson, Arlington, Texas Police Sergeant (Ret.)
Paul Murphy, Utah AMBER Alert Coordinator
Deanna Boyd-Spangler, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Reporter
Jeff Cardinale, Fresno, California Police PIO
Mary Justino, Clay County, Florida Sheriff’s Office PIO
C.W. Miller, Phoenix Police Commander
Eric Watson, Reporter, KPNX-TV in Phoenix

10:45 a.m.

Family Roundtable Findings (open to media)

12:00 p.m.

Victim Perspective (open to media)

Diena Thompson, mother of Somer Thompson

11 :45 a.m.

Symposium Closing (open to media)

Ron Laney, Associate Administrator, Child Protection Division, OJJDP
Cecilia Duquela-Fuentes, Program Manager, OJJDP
Phil Keith, Program Director, AMBER Alert Training & Technical Assistance Program

Where: Hyatt Regency Phoenix, 122 North Second Street, Phoenix, Arizona

Note: Press must register at the press table in front of the Regency Ballroom & check with Paul Murphy to cover sessions or arrange interviews.

Afternoon of Day 2 at the National AMBER Alert Symposium Gets Specialized

2010-11-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

Specialized sessions are going on now at the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium.

Southern Border Initiative

Jim Walters, AMBER In Indian Country

AMBER In Indian Country

Cathy DeLaPaz, Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking

Bonnie Davis, Demo: Extranet, Criminal Justice Portal and Online Courses

Bob Hoever, AMBER 101

Child Abduction Response Team Workshop

2010 AMBER Alert Awards Presented

2010-11-17T14:09:00.001-07:00

Marilyn Roberts, Deputy Administrator for Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention presented the following awards at the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium:

AMBER Alert Broadcaster/Media Person of the Year Award: Dennis Lyle

Ron Laney, Dennis Lyle, Marilyn Roberts

Illinois Broadcasters Association President Dennis Lyle helped develop a state AMBER Alert program in 2001 and enlisted more than 500 broadcasters to help make the plan work. Lyle promotes the state’s “no budget” AMBER Alert Plan to enlist partners to educate the public and create public service announcements.

AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Year: Charles Fleeger

Ron Laney, Charles Fleeger, Marilyn Roberts

College Station, Texas Police Lt. Charles Fleeger is the Region Three Texas AMBER Alert Coordinator. He also oversees the Brazos Valley Child Abduction Response Team for seven counties in Texas. He organizes training sessions and donates his own time and money to get the training he needs to bring children home safely.

AMBER Alert Law Enforcement Leadership Award: Eric Garcia

Ron Laney, Eric Garcia, Marilyn Roberts

New Mexico Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Eric Garcia works tirelessly to educate law enforcement officers and broadcasters on AMBER Alert laws, regulations and protocols. He developed a Missing/Endangered Alert to find children who may not meet the AMBER Alert criteria. He has also been a leading force to bring AMBER Alerts in bordering states in Mexico.

AMBER Alert Citizen Award: Mike Grant and Victor Perez

Ron Laney, Mike Grant, Marilyn Roberts

Mike Grant helped save a two-year-old girl after an AMBER Alert was issued in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The girl was abducted by her father who had assaulted the victim’s mother at knife-point. Grant was hunting in the woods when he spotted the suspect and convinced him to turn himself in.

Ron Laney, Victor Perez, Marilyn Roberts

Victor Perez responded to an AMBER Alert in Fresno, California after an eight-year-old girl was abducted and forced into a truck. Perez followed the suspect until he pushed the child out of the truck. The suspect was arrested 40 minutes later.

CART Certification Recognitions

Utah Statewide CART, Recognized September 1, 2010

State of Georgia CART, Recognized September 1, 2010

Southern Oregon CART, Recognized October 1, 2010

York County CART, Recognized November 17, 2010

Kansas CART, Recognized November 17, 2010

Delving Into the Minds of Sexual Offenders

2010-11-17T10:30:00.001-07:00

Veronique N. Valliere, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist, Valliere & Counseling Associates, Inc. begins Predatory Behavior and promises "swearing and laughter".

Dr. Veronique Valliere

Day 2 Has Begun At The 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium

2010-11-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

Phil Keith got us underway and introduced Rick Beseler, Sheriff Clay County Sheriff's Office to present the Abduction of Somer Thompson

Phil Keith, addressing a full house introduces Sheriff Rick Beseler

Rick Beseler (left) and Phil Keith (right)

Phil Keith

Sheriff Rick Beseler

Rick Beseler and Phil Keith

Sheriff Rick Beseler

Sheriff Rick Beseler presents Abduction of Somer Thompson

Sheriff Rick Beseler Presenting Abduction of Somer Thompson

Agenda for DAY 2 of the National AMBER Alert Symposium

2010-11-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Here is what you will find if you join us for DAY 2 here at the National AMBER Alert Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona:

8:30 a.m.

Opening Remarks

Phil Keith, Program Director, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program

8:45 a.m.

Abduction of Somer Thompson

Rick Beseler, Sheriff and David Senters, Captain Clay County Sheriff's Office

10:00 a.m.

Predatory Behaviors

Veronique N. Valliere, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist, Valliere & Counseling Associates, Inc.

1:00 p.m.

Keynote

Marilyn Roberts, Deputy Administrator for Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Presentation of AMBER Alert Awards & CART Certification Recognitions

2:15 p.m.

AMBER In Indian Country Session (Cassidy - invite only)

Phil Keith, Program Director, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program
Jim Walter, Retired Captain, Placerville, CA Police Department; AIIC and SBI Liaison; Lead Instructor for Canvass, Search and Recovery Strategies for Abducted Children

CART Workshop (Ellis East/West -CART Coordinators and Law Enforcement Members)

Facilitators:

Donna Uzzell, Director of the Criminal Justice Information Program for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Floy Turner, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (Ret.); Lead Instructor for CART Training
Jessica Farnsworth, Utah Attorney General's Office, CART Coordinator
David Senters, Captain, Clay County Sheriff's Office

Family Roundtable (Phoenix Ballroom - invite only)

Ron Laney, Associate Administrator, Child Protection Division, OJJDP
Phil Keith, Program Director, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program
Mark Simpson, Retired Sergeant, Arlington, TX Police Department; Lead Instructor for Specialized Investigative Techniques in Child Abduction Cases
Gus Paidousis, Deputy Chief, Knoxville, TN Police Department; Lead Instructor for Leadership for Missing and Abducted Children

Southern Border Initiative (Curtis AB - invitation only)

Phil Keith, Program Director, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program
Jim Walter, Retired Captain, Placerville, CA Police Department; AIIC and SBI Liaison; Lead Instructor for Canvass, Search and Recovery Strategies for Abducted Children
Cecilia Duquela-Fuentes, Program Manager, OJJDP

AMBER 101 (Borein AB) This course will run from 2:15-3:30 and again from 3:45-5:00

Bob Hoever, Associate Director of Special Projects, Missing Children's Division, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Paul Murphy, Director of Communications and Policy, Utah Attorney General's Office; Utah AMBER Alert Coordinator

Human Trafficking (Cowboy Artist Room) This course will run from 2:15-3:30 and again from 3:45-5:00

Cathy DeLaPaz, Detective, Child Exploitation Squad, Dallas Police Department

Demonstration: Extranet, Criminal Justice Portal and Online Courses (Russel ABC) This course will run from 2:15-3:30 and again from 3:45-5:00

Bonnie Davis, Distance Learning Coordinator, Consultant, FVTC

Now That We're Warmed Up...

2010-11-17T06:07:00.001-07:00

Day 2 here at the National Amber Alert Symposium will feature an
in-depth look at the Somer Thompson abduction and murder and we will
delve into the minds of offenders during Predatory Behaviors.

And oh, so much more...

Candlelight Vigil Put on By the Surviving Parents Coalition

2010-11-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

The Surviving Parents Coalition held a candlelight vigil tonight.

Bringing It All Together

2010-11-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Gus Paidousis brings everyone back together to close day 1 of the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium with a case study on the abduction and murder of Kassandra "Kassie" Trimmier.

Gus Paidousis

Gus Paidousis closes day 1

A full house rounds out the day.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's Keynote Address

2010-11-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

Mark Shurtleff Addresses the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium

"Thank you Ron for that kind introduction, and Phil, for your invitation to speak today. It is an honor to address so many professionals and committed surviving family members who have dedicated your lives to protecting children and bringing them all home safe.

I am so impressed with Ernie Allen’s opening summary of the extraordinary growth, change and improvement of the Amber Alert system throughout the U.S. and now, internationally.

Throughout history people have excused the lack of progress or innovation with the apology, “Because That’s The Way They’ve Always Done It.” (BTTWTADI)

Let me share an example:

The U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is four feet, eight and a half inches. That is a very odd number. WHY?

BTTWTADI. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Baltimore (B&O) was incorporated in 1827, to build a steam railroad connecting Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Why?

BTTWTADI. While most U.S. railroads were designed by U.S. not British engineers, a number of early lines were built to fit standard-gauge locomotives manufactured by English railroad pioneer George Stephenson. Stephenson was an English mechanical engineer who constructed the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives. He is known as the "Father of Railways. His rail gauge was 4 feet 8½ inches, and sometimes called "Stephenson gauge", is the world's standard gauge. WHY?

BTTWTADI. Certain wheel ruts having that same standard gauge at the gate to an old Roman fort called Housesteads on Hadrian's Wall in the north of England. Legend has it that George Stephenson based the gauge he used for his locomotives on the width of these ruts. Most road carriages in Middle Ages inherited the old Roman cart gauge of approximately 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches. WHY?

BTTWTADI. Roman war chariots made the initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagons. Since the chariots were made for or by Imperial Rome, they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing Roman "rutways," many of which were purposely built to standard dimensions (i.e. rutways in buried cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.) WHY?

BTTWTADI. Julius Caesar set this width under Roman law so that vehicles could traverse Roman villages and towns without getting caught in stone ruts of differing widths. WHY?

BTTWTADI. He copied the Greeks. Costa, our friend from Greece, where are you? Yes, your people started all this. Caesar decided on standard gauge after seeing a "grooveway" at the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece. This was a purposely built set of ruts used to guide the wheels on carts carrying goods being transshipped across the isthmus. Prof. Solomon says he personally measured an excavated portion of this ancient grooveway and found it had a gauge of four feet, eight and a half inches. WHY?

BTTWTADI. That is the width of the hindquarters of two horses pulling a chariot.

Rest of the Story:

Later this month the Space Shuttle Discovery will launch on its 39th and final flight lifted off the pad and 28 miles into space by two solid rocket boosters (SRBs) which are manufactured at the Thiokol plant in Utah. You’ve seen them. Relatively small compared to the large external fuel tank. Why? I have a photo of the SRBs being shipped to Florida by train for final assembly at the launch site.

Need I say more?

So the most advanced form of travel in the 21st Century (space) was designed because of the width of two horses behinds – and that’s they way they always did it.

BTTWTADI is the killer of change. It is the black hole of progress and innovation.

“When you're finished changing, you're finished.” -Benjamin Franklin

I think it is appropriate that we are meeting this week in Phoenix. As you might have guessed the city was named after the mythological bird that burns itself up every 500 years and then comes back from the ashes even more beautiful. Christina Baldwin said that “Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the Phoenix

Public Safety’s greatest change and success came with Law Enforcements change to Community Oriented Policing decades ago

DOJ COPS Program started in 1994. Double digit billions to states, municipalities and tribes.

“Community” - A study published in the journal Science reporting on the project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods concluded that the largest single predictor of crime levels in the neighborhoods studied was “collective efficacy.”
(Sampson et al., 1998) The authors’ defined collective efficacy as “mutual trust among neighbors combined with a willingness to intervene on behalf of the common good.”

Neighborhood Watch grew out of the community concept of working together in support of law enforcement to work together.

The mark of a healthy and thriving community is how it treats and protects its children.

So permit me to suggest a new slogan to motivate and inspire all of us to even greater growth and success. Let it be the antithesis of “Because That’s The Way They’ve Always Done It”:

Because That’s The Way We Save a Child (BTTWWSAC)

March 2001 - I attended my first meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General and picked up a book and video put together by DOJ, NCMEC and the National Association of Broadcasters. That year only 2 children were recovered from an AMBER Alert and only 16 children had been recovered since the program was launched in 1996. I asked my Director of Communications and Policy, Paul Murphy, to establish a statewide Amber Alert system for Utah in one year’s time. He went to work with Dale Zabriski of the Utah Broadcasters Association and Gina McMahon of the Department of Public Safety.
April 2002 - Utah launches the Rachael Alert (named for little Rachael Runyon who was kidnapped and murdered nearly twenty years earlier.) It was the nation’s 9th statewide child abduction alert plan and was created with help of Oklahoma and other states with statewide plans. Why? BTTWWSAC
June 2002 - Elizabeth Smart abducted and the world wants to know about AMBER Alerts. Numerous states start seeking help to set up their own AMBER Alert plans.
August 2002 - Utah started using highway signs after seeing how they worked in California becomes one of the 1st states to add alerts to highway signs. Why? BTTWWSAC
January 2003 – Jeff Salt driving to work sees Alert flashing on Highway Sign. One hour later spots suspects entering a YWCA
April 2003 - Utah changes the Rachael Alert to the AMBER Alert to avoid confusion and because the term AMBER Alert had captured the nation’s attention. Utah creates the Rachael Runyon Award to honor Rachael’s memory. Her mother Elaine Runyon-Simmons is the HEART of Utah’s Amber Alert Team. Here today, she holds an annual fundraiser that raises our entire Amber Alert budget. Jeff Salt was the first recipient of the award. Why? BTTWWSAC
May 2003 – I was being interviewed on the Doug Wright show on KSL Radio. A long-haul trucker driving through the state was listening and called in. He asked why we didn’t broadcast the Amber Alert on the trucker Channel 19. So we did. Why? BTTWWSAC
May 2003 – A Utah company innovated a text crawl and pilots it on laptops in police vehicles. The Provo Police Department issued an alert for an 11-year-old girl after receiving information from police in St. Cloud, Minnesota that a 21-year-old man may be heading to Provo with the girl. Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Randall Richey on side of !-80 in Northeastern Utah near the Wyoming border noticed the alert on the laptop computer in his car and started figuring out how long it would take someone to travel from Minnesota to Utah. While he was waiting for the results, he spotted the suspect’s car (less than 45 minutes after the alert was issued in Utah!)
July 2003 - Utah begins sending AMBER Alerts by e-mail & text. Why? BTTWWSAC
September 2005 - Utah launches the Endangered Person Advisory - an alert for cases that don’t meet the AMBER Alert criteria & is now in most states. BTTWWSAC
December 30, 2005 - The Box Elder County Sheriff's Office issued an AMBER Alert for 7 and 12 year old brothers kidnapped by their noncustodial mother in a stolen vehicle. Authorities feared the children were in imminent danger because the suspect allegedly suffers from psychotic schizophrenia and has a history of drug abuse and violence with other family members. 370 miles south, in Ivins, Utah, Mike Butcher and his wife Chasity Angell saw the alert on TV and notwithstanding they lived on a back road, 10 miles from the interstate, they memorized the details “just in case” The next morning they spotted the suspect and called the Ivins City Police Department and followed the suspect's car. The mother was arrested and the children were recovered 2 minutes later.
August 2007 - Utah launches the statewide Child Abduction Response Team and numerous regional and local CARTs are soon developed. Thanks to our Utah CART Commander Special Agent Jessica Farnsworth. This concept was based on work developed by Florida. Why? BTTWWSAC
2009 - Same day recoveries of children have increased from to 71% from 60% in 2005. The number of non-family abductions decreased from 101 in 2005 to 61 in 2009.
July 2009 - Salt Lake City hosts the nation’s largest AMBER Alert Initiative training, overall Utah has trained more people than any other state. Why? BTTWWSAC
August 2010 – Utah’s statewide Child Abduction Response Team receives national certification. Thank you Phil Keith and Floy Turner!
Today - More than 500 children have been safely recovered because of an AMBER Alert. 94% of all children have been recovered after the National AMBER Alert program was established in 2003. More than 250 CART teams have been trained and created. Today AMBER Alerts go out on highway signs, cell phones, e-mails, lottery tickets, taxi cabs and through many other means.
Today – International expansion and innovation. Speaking of railroads, France has added Amber Alert crawls in its trains. Technology (thanks to Utah AG Deputy Communication Director Scott Troxel, who also runs all media for these symposia and is posting a live blog as we speak. Go to www.ambersymposia.blogspot.com)
LAPD and Green Bay, WI using a “Twitter-like” system for Amber Alerts. (I sent a Tweet today to my 8,000 followers and also posted info on my Facebook page and a photo of NCMEC President Ernie Allen giving this morning’s keynote.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Indiana PD are joining other agencies in using Facebook (500 million “friends.”) Red Robin raises money in Colorado in partnership with NCMEC to give out child identification kits. Business has been wonderful (In Utah Verizon Wireless, and Hard Rock Café!) Missouri Child Identification and Protection Program .100,000 registrations (info, digital photos, fingerprints, bite impressions) Why? BTTWWSAC
Paul Klass (Klass Kid’s Foundation) is urging the FCC to approve a proposal by Clarity Media Systems, LLC, a subsidiary of Flying J Inc., the company that owns and operates hundreds of Flying J travel plazas across the country’s highways. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires America’s 2-million long haul truck drivers to spend 10-hours or more per day resting. Clarity will make this special channel the default channel that every truck driver sees when he turns on the television set while at rest in his cab and that plays continuously in the common areas of the highway travel plazas. He’s put out a call for our help in contacting the FCC. Why? BTTWWSAC

One person who turned tragedy into triumph with a great idea started a movement, joined by others whose terrible loss mandated action, that has changed dramatically the way we react to missing and abducted children. Those few became dozens, then hundreds here today and tens of thousands who work with us across the country and now around the world; and literally millions of citizens turned first responders looking for a missing child. All of you here today are doing something that will make sure a young child will make it home alive. Why? Because That’s The Way We Save A Child!

PHOENIX REMINDER:

Miguel de Cervantes, wrote of Don Quixote tilting at windmills. (Some might say that you are doing the same given the fact that there will always be those who will kidnap, hurt and kill our children and we cannot save them all. I know you are here to reach not such an “Impossible Dream.” Cervantes said, “The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.”

For all of us here this week, let Phoenix represent Change; Progress; Innovation. It will only be so however if you catch fire and take inspiration, knowledge and renewed motivation to continue to create, innovate, expand, enlarge and enhance our efforts. That Is The Way We Save not just A Child, but thousands, even countless, lives.

God bless you in your efforts."

AMBER Alert Partners, Victim's Family Roundtable and AMBER Alert International Discussions Dominate the Afternoon of Day 1

2010-11-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

AMBER Alert Parnters Panel: Mark Allen, President, Washington State Broadcasters Association; Janell Rasmussen, Minnesota AMBER Alert Coordinator; Bob Hoever; Cinda Lubich, Manager, Illinois Clearinghouse for Missing Persons; Kirk Roberts, Lieutenant, Bedford Police Department

AMBER Alert Parnters Panel: Mark Allen, President, Washington State Broadcasters Association; Janell Rasmussen, Minnesota AMBER Alert Coordinator; Cinda Lubich, Manager, Illinois Clearinghouse for Missing Persons; Kirk Roberts, Lieutenant, Bedford Police Department

Family Roundtable

Phil Keith, Marilyn Roberts, Ron Laney

Family Roundtable Participants

AMBER Alert International

Participants at AMBER Alert International

AMBER Alert International Participants

KEYNOTE: Utah Attorney General Mark L. Shurtleff

2010-11-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

Utah Attorney General Mark L. Shurtleff, addresses the participants of the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium.

"Why do we do what we do? Because that saves a child!"

Ron Laney, Phil Keith and Mark Shurtleff

Mark Shurtleff

Mark Shurtleff, Ron Laney

Mark Shurtleff

Lunch Keynote with Mark Shurtleff

AMBER In Indian Country, Child Abduction Response Team (CART) and International Initiative

2010-11-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

Phil Keith continues with highlights of the AMBER in Indian Country.

CART In Indian Country

Some of the many program developments in Indian Country

Floy Turner updates Child Abduction Response Team (CART) developments

CART: Floy Turner, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (Ret.)

Floy Turner

Caroline Humer discusses AMBER Alert around the world

International Initiative: Caroline Humer, Program Director, International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children

Caroline Humer

AMBER Alert grows around the world

Southern Border Initiative

2010-11-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

Phil Keith and Cecilia Duquela-Fuentes discuss AMBER Alert efforts along the southern border and in Mexico.

Southern Border Initiative: Phil Keith, Program Director, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program; and Cecilia Duquela-Fuentes, Program Manager, OJJDP

Cecilia Duquela-Fuentes

Phil Keith

Technology Update & AMBER Alert Plans and Changes

2010-11-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Bob Hoever and Gus Paidousis Continue the Plenary Session with Technology Update and AMBER Alert Plans and Changes

Technology Update: Bob Hoever, Associate Director of Special Projects, Missing Children's Division, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Bob Hoever

AMBER Alert Plans and Changes: Gus Paidousis, Deputy Chief, Knoxville Police Department

Gud Paidousis

Plenary Session Begins

2010-11-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ron Laney introduced Phil Keith who is presenting AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Update, Training Schedule, and Strategic Plan.

Ron Laney and the Plenary Session Speakers

Ron Laney

Phil Keith

Opening Remarks and the Morning Keynote Address

2010-11-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

Ron Laney, Associate Administrator, Child Protection Division, OJJDP Open the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium

Marilyn Roberts, Deputy Administrator for Programs, OJJDP

Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona

Joe Yahner, Executive Assistant Police Chief, Phoenix Police Department

Keynote: Ernie Allen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children

The 2010 Conference Begins

2010-11-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Color Guard: Phoenix Police Department Honor Guard

National Anthem: Precious Eneagu, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale

The Feeling in the Room is Palpable

2010-11-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

We're about to get underway here at the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium. Here's a view of the room as people begin to file in:

NATIONAL AMBER ALERT SYMPOSIUM GETS UNDERWAY IN PHOENIX

2010-11-15T17:58:00.000-07:00

Who:
Nationally recognized experts on child abductions, representatives from law enforcement, media, transportations and other AMBER Alert partners from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the European Union, plus family members of child abduction victims.

What:
The 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium will have its annual gathering in Phoenix. The first day will include the latest developments in the AMBER Alert program and family members of child abduction victims will hold a candlelight vigil to remember missing and abducted children. This media advisory outlines day one of the three-day symposium.

When:
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
8:30 a.m.
Posting of Colors (open to media)
Phoenix Police Department Honor Guard

National Anthem
Precious Eneagu, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale

Opening remarks
Marilyn Roberts, Deputy Administrator for Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

Sharon Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona

Joe Yahner, Assistant Police Chief, Phoenix Police Department

Ron Laney, Associate Administrator, Child Protection Division, OJJDP

Keynote speech (open to media)
Ernie Allen, President & CEO, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC)

10:15 a.m.
AMBER Alert Training and Strategic Plan Update (open to media)
Phil Keith, Program Director, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program

Technology Update
Bob Hoever, Associate Director of Special Projects, NCMEC

AMBER Alert Plans and Changes Update
Gus Paidousis, Deputy Chief, Knoxville Police Department

Southern Border Initiative & AMBER Alert in Indian Country Update
Phil Keith; Cecilia Duquela-Fuentes, Program Manager, OJJDP

Child Abduction Response Team Update
Floy Turner, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (Ret.)

International Initiative Update
Caroline Humer, Senior Program Manager, ICMEC

12:00 p.m.
Keynote Speech (open to media)
Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General

1:30 p.m.
Family Roundtable (closed to media)

AMBER Alert Partners Update (open to media)

International Session (open to media)

4:00 p.m.
Kassie Trimmier Case Study (closed to media)

Where:
Hyatt Regency Phoenix, 122 North Second Street, Phoenix, Arizona

Note:
Media should check in at the registration desk at the Regency Ballroom and arrange with Paul Murphy to cover any sessions or arrange interviews.

###

HEROES WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT 2010 NATIONAL AMBER ALERT SYMPOSIUM IN PHOENIX

2010-11-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

Two ordinary citizens who took extraordinary measures to save abducted children will be honored at the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium in Phoenix. The three-day symposium begins November 16 and will also include family members affected by some of the highest profile child abduction cases in the nation.

The annual symposium will include federal, state, tribal and local representatives from the United States as well as international partners from Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Awards will be given to people who have made a significant impact in bringing abducted children home, including two winners of the Citizen Award:

Mike Grant was on a hunting trip when an AMBER Alert that was issued in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Two-year-old Hailey Traynham was abducted by her father after he had assaulted the child’s mother at knife-point. Grant had heard the alert and confronted the suspect in a forest near Milton, New Hampshire and convinced him to turn himself in.
Victor Perez of Fresno, California saw the truck that matched the description of an AMBER Alert he had just seen on television for an eight-year-old girl. Perez jumped into his truck and started chasing the vehicle. After he saw the little girl’s head pop up, Perez tried to cut off the suspect and force him to stop. The suspect pushed the girl out of the truck and was later captured by the California Highway Patrol.

The 2009 National AMBER Alert Symposium was held last October in Tampa, Florida just days after seven-year-old Somer Thompson had been abducted while walking home from school in Orange Park, Florida. Somer was murdered and her body was later found in a Georgia landfill. At this year’s symposium, Somer’s mother, Diena Thompson, and Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler will share some of the lessons learned from the tragedy. Thompson will also participate in a Family Roundtable with other family members of child abduction victims.

Other notable speakers include Marilyn Roberts, Administrator for Programs, Office of, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs; Ernie Allen President and CEO for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children; and Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General.

The conference will include updates on the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Initiative, which has helped create or develop AMBER Alert programs in more than 15 tribal communities; and the Southern Border Initiative, which recently set up AMBER Alert programs in Baja California, Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Also, experts will share the latest information about predatory behaviors and human trafficking.

Some of the sessions will be open to the media. Reporters should contact Paul Murphy to arrange to cover training sessions or for interviews with award winners, presenters or participants. Bios and additional information will be made available at the press registration table near the Regency Ballroom on the 1st floor.

More than 500 abducted children have been brought home safely as a direct result of an AMBER Alert plan. Every U.S. state and territory has an AMBER Alert plan.

What: 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium
When: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 16

8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 17

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Thursday, November 18

Where: Hyatt Regency Phoenix,122 North Second Street, Phoenix, Arizona
Note: More information will be posted at ambersymposium.blogspot.com

###

Welcome to the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium

2010-11-15T16:31:00.001-07:00

This will be your source for up to the minute information about the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium.